'Dereliction of Duty' in Brooklyn Heights
[nggallery id=”21505″ template=galleryview] Abandoned and unkept buildings can be a problem even in Brooklyn’s most tony neighborhoods, in the worst cases becoming a fire hazard or haven for drug dealers, and in general reducing property values. The Brooklyn Heights Association looks into three such buildings in its spring newsletter, calling them a “Dereliction of Duty,”…
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Abandoned and unkept buildings can be a problem even in Brooklyn’s most tony neighborhoods, in the worst cases becoming a fire hazard or haven for drug dealers, and in general reducing property values. The Brooklyn Heights Association looks into three such buildings in its spring newsletter, calling them a “Dereliction of Duty,” and yesterday we came up with a few more details. The “majestic brownstone” at 194 Columbia Heights, “vacant and padlocked for decades,” is owned by a psychiatrist with an office on Henry Street who did not return our calls. In 2004, he received a Department of Buildings permit to reduce the building from six families to a three but it appears no work was done after that. According to a neighbor, the house got caught up in a messy divorce in the 1980s and no one has lived there since. The neighbor said the owner made an attempt to sell the house but was unsuccessful despite its prime waterfront views. “Now word comes of tens of thousands of dollars owed in back property taxes,” according to BHA (records indicate that the city at least attempted to foreclose on the property for outstanding taxes once before, serving a vacate order in 1986). Now that the owner missed the best time to sell, we wonder what will come of this place over the next decade.
The multi-family building known as 100 Clark Street nearly collapsed in 2004, according to the Brooklyn Eagle, and is still in miserable shape. The Penson Company bought the building for $3.65 million two years ago and has since put it back on the market (the listing isn’t online but we were told the owner is still entertaining offers). Eastern Consolidated broker Ronda Rogovin told us the landmarked former mansion hasn’t sold because it required major structural work and another broker said three rent stabalized tenants still live there. DOB records indicate no work has been done there for a year. The Brooklyn Eagle also reported that Landmarks approved increasing the building’s square footage from 1,950 to 9,750 (woah five times the size).
Quaint 25 Willow Place has been vacant for over 40 years, according to the newsletter, adding “The house may soon be a candidate for Demolition by Neglect, a provision of the NYC Landmarks Law that allows the Commission to take an owner to court in order to save a landmarked building from irreparable deterioration.” Owner Emma Lindberg (married to Charles Lindberg, different spelling than the famous aviator and son of the same name) still has a phone listing in Long Island at the same address the home was purchased under in 1970. The house across the street, 45 Willow Place, is occupied but its exterior is in worse condition. The BHA says, “Often there are intractable circumstances that prevent the sale of a property. But even where legal entanglements or family disputes make a sale difficult, the owners should accept their responsibility for the safety and visual integrity of the neighborhood.” Anyone have more details on these mystery homes?
Regarding Penelope Scarano, at the time the house was purchased she used a Boston residence, and as you may know Robert Scarano Jr. was born in Brooklyn. I looked for a connection and didn’t find one. But I really could have spent days on this, you know? To 11:04 a.m. “If you want, we can even get you phone numbers, contacts and write the story for you.” That would be great! Letting the reader do some of the reporting (and sending in tips) is part of what the fast-paced blog format is all about! The same goes for drawing connections between these vacant buildings — among scores of others throughout the city — and the Department of Buildings (and even the crane collapse if you want). That’s why we ask if any readers have more information, and encourage open discussion of posts.
Brooklyn is full of dysfunctional owners who can neither maintain nor sell their property. The Psychiatrist on Henry Street is, even by the standard of his profession, crazy as a loon.
On the other hand, the problem with 100 Clark Street is rent-control tenants who cannot be budged. I think there are three left who probably live rent-free in the building. They may exit feet first after the building falls in on them.
There is another house like this on Henry Street near the hospital (corner building with the scaffolding and cats in it.) Sometimes it’s legal wrangling, eccentricity, etc. But other times a case of demolition by neglect: if you ignore a building long enough it may end up unsalvageable and you can then demolish it without dealing with landmark district rules. Crappy attitude, in my opinion, because even with an economic slowdown, these properties would easily sell for a hefty price to someone who would fix them up. (Not true for all the building above, just one more reason this kind of thing happens.)
More weak reporting from Brownstoner. C’mon, you can do better. This is story is as old as Mathusalah.
I’m sure you can go around to every neighborhood and find a derilict building that has some DOB Report, violations, etc that has been standing there for 20 years.
Instead of reporting the obvious, it woudl be nice to dig deeper and get on the horn with the suits at the DOB, City Hall to find out why this happens. You could also tie this into the recent crain collapse and see what inspectors are doing about buildings. If you want, we can even get you phone numbers, contacts and write the story for you.
Stoner, your site is really going downhill.
More weak reporting from Brownstoner. C’mon, you can do better. This is story is as old as Mathusalah.
I’m sure you can go around to every neighborhood and find a derilict building that has some DOB Report, violations, etc that has been standing there for 20 years.
Instead of reporting the obvious, it woudl be nice to dig deeper and get on the horn with the suits at the DOB, City Hall to find out why this happens. You could also tie this into the recent crain collapse and see what inspectors are doing about buildings. If you want, we can even get you phone numbers, contacts and write the story for you.
Stoner, your site is really going downhill.
“Now that the owner missed the best time to sell, we wonder what will come of this place over the next decade.”
oh, give me a break. the owner of a 6,000sf brownstone with water views in prime brooklyn heights “missed the best time to sell?” you do realize that this home is currently worth a bazillion dollars, even in its dilapidated state, and that most of the gargantuan sales price would be pure profit to a long-time owner?
I walk by 100 Clark all the time (corner of Monroe Pl). What a shame, especially as the entrance to a beautiful block.
There is a house on pacific between bond and hoyt that the city just cemented up…it’s sad to see grand houses decay and also become safety hazzards to the other homes around them
25 Clifton Place is in the same situation. I wrote to Leitia James asking her about whether derection by neglect applies to this property. She never replied. There are many people who are interested in the property but the owner refuses to sell and just leave the property to crumple. The stoop stairs are literally falling apart and in the past drup dealers were using it as a storage place. When we notify the owner, he just ignore the whole situation and it is useless to call the 88 because they never investigate anything unless they see it happening.